Journal box lid



Dec- 12, 1939- J. J. RULIANCICH JOURNAL BOX LID Filed Oct 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 hullli .4 T TOR NEYS.

Dec. 12, 1939- J. J. RULIANCICH JOURNAL BOX LID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1937 INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1939 PATENT oFFca JOURNAL BOX LID John J. Ruliancich, New Kensington, Pa., as-

, signor to Union Spring and Manufacturing Company, a. corporation of Pennsylvania I npplicationoctober 26, 1937, Serial No. 170,996

g 4 Claims.

Myinventiohrelatesto the -journal boxes of railway rolling stock, and consists in improve- ;oents in the structure of the-lid of the journal ox. v I In application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial'No. 154,944, filed July 22, 1937, I illustrate and describe a journal box lid that advantageously embodies a supplemental cam block. The supplemental cam block is organized'with the i usual camelug on the journal box, and cooperates with a spring-embodiedin the lid structure, to hold the lid in open and closed positions. More particularly, mypresent invention consists in refinements inthe structure and organization of i such supplement cam block. r

' In the'accompanying drawings-Fig.1 is a view in front elevation of a lid-adaptedto be organized with a supplemental cam block in accordance with my invention. Fig. II is a View of the lid struc block is shown assembledwith the .lid and appears in side elevation. In-Fig. II ajournalbox is. fragmentarily, shown in side elevation, and the lid is shown in position for assemblywith the box.

Fig. III is a view in vertical section, showing the journal'box fragmentarily,,with the "lid structure assembled thereon, the lid appearing in closed position in full lines and in op cn position in broken lines. Fig. IV is a viewin rear elevation and to larger scale of the supplemental cam block Fig. V is a view in end elevation *of the block, and Fig. VI is a sectional view' of the block, on the plane VI-VI of Fig. i

I The lid of the invention includes,-as is usual, acover plate I a spring-retaining hood ,2 mounted externally upon the cover plate, and ajspring 3 assembled in the pocket formed by and between the plate and hood. The assembly of plate, hood and spring is adapted to be appliedas a unit to,.

and to be pivotally mounted at its upper edge upon, the usual perforated lug 4, cast integrally upon the journal boxtn Thelug 4 i's'here shown to be of conventional and. standard form, with cam surfaces 5 and 'Lof which surface 6 is a plane surface that is slightly inclined from the horizontal upwardly and outwardly, and surface I is a plane surface that is slightly inclined from the vertical downwardly and inwardly. These two cam surfaces define an upward and outward extension of the lug 4, and the angle of the meeting of these surfaces is rounded. This, as has been said, is a feature of standard equipment, and to it the lid of the invention is adaptable. I shall in the ensuing description characterize this lug as a cam block.

ture in" vertical section; the 'supplemental cam The spring is, in kind, a torsion spring. It includes the coil, to which in Figs. I and VI the reference numeral 3is immediately applied, and the radially extending arms 8 and 9. The arm 8 is adapted to be anchored in the axis of pivotal turning of the lid, and to such end is formed with a circular terminal loop ill; the arm 9 is adapted to engage the cam surfaces that are rigidly disposed with relation to the axis of turning, and to such endit is equipped with a friction-reducing roller ll. The spring is preferably formed as a double member, with two coils 3, duplicate outer arms 8 and duplicate innerarms 9 that form the two branches ofa continuous, U-shaped exten" sion. "The coils 3, as shown in Fig. I, arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the mid-plane of the structure, are inclined slightly, andoppositely inclined, to the horizontal.

The plate'l is provided with loops 5?. at its upper edge (Fig. I) that constitute a knuckle for pivotal mounting, and the hood 2 is provided with perforations I 3 in its side walls, and through these in the assembly a pivot-pin M passes, to effect the pivotal mounting of, the lid upon the perforated cam block 4. As shown at it in Fig. III, the loops l2 and the perforations it are elongate, in a. direction substantially perpendicular to the plane I?) of the opening of the journal box, to the end that the lid when mounted may accommodate itself to unevennesses and make substantially tight closure around the margins of the opening in the journal box.

, The plate I is shapedwith a seat It upon its outer face, to receive the coils of the spring 3, and

hood 2 is shaped'to afford a corresponding and co-operating seat H; and it may be remarked that in this case the coils of the spring are by these portions of the plate and the hood engaged on opposite sides, and that the intervals between these regions of engagement are less in extent than the overall diameter of the coils: thatis to say, the coils are held captive between plate and hood. The seat 56 iscentral in its location upon the plate, to the end that the spring shall exert its tension centrally with respect to the rectangular'margin of the opening in the junction box.

The hood 2 is narrower than the plate (cf. Fig. I); it is applied externally upon plate i; it is united with plate I,- by means of rivets i9, and at the upper end the edges of hood and plate 50 stand widely apart, and at the lower end the edge of hood 2 stands away from the surface of I the prolonged seat I6. That is to say, the pocket formed by and between plate and hood is open above, to permit of assembly and operation, and. 55

is open below at 20 to afford escape of dust and to facilitate cleaning. The hood at its upper end is prolonged, to overarch the contained parts, and at its edge is provided with an in-turned lip 2|.

As mentioned in my copending application, above noted, the spring of my improved lid may be made a very powerful spring-much more powerful than springs ordinarily employed in these structures. And this is a feature of practical value and advantage. Employing such a spring, I find it further advantageous to provide for a large range of spring play, in the movement of the lid between open and closed positions. Accordingly, I advantageously provide a supplemental cam block, to constitute in the assembly an enlargement of the standard cam block 4, and this supplemental cam block I assemble with the lid, that the whole may be applied as a unit to the journal box with its standard cam block 4. This supplemental cam block is illustrated in detail in Figs. IV, V and VI; it appears in the lid assembly in Fig. II, and in the applied position in Fig. III. It bears the reference numeral 22. This block is provided with perforations 23, and, hollowed beneath, is provided with an internal web 2i and a downwardly projecting lug 25, so that in the assembly it may be secured rigidly upon the cam block 4. The supplementary cam block 22 is provided with surfaces 26 and 21 that correspond in other respects, when assembly has been made, to the surfaces 5 and 1 of the cam block 4, but, being farther remote from the axis of pivotal turning (as is manifest on considering Fig. III)'it is at the same time manifest that they serve to effect a wider range of spring play in the opening and closing swing of the assembled lid. The supplemental cam block is provided with cylindrical extensions 28 (in which the perforations 23 for pivotal mounting are coaxially formed) that afford bearing surfaces for the loops ID upon the spring arms 8. At the rear of the cam block the cam surface 25 curves at 29 on relatively sharp radius, providing in efiect a shallow recess, of shape and size to receive the roller H upon spring arm 9.

The lid parts so characterized are assembled in the following manner. First, the spring is compressed and the arms 8 and 9 are swung into the crossed relation in which they appear in Fig. II. Then, the arms 8 are slightly spread and brought to position upon the cylindrical extensions 28 of the cam-block 22, with the roller at the distal end of the double spring-arm 9 pressed under spring tension against the medial body portion of the cam block. The spring and cam block assembly is then applied to the plate I, with the coils of the spring resting in the seat It, and the lip 21 of the hood positioned over the roller H upon the double spring-arm. The parts are brought to the positions shown in Fig. II, and the hood is secured in place, in this case by means of rivets l9. In such assembly the cam block 22 is engaged by the roller H, the two hooked ends of the arms 8, and the upper edge (the right hand edge in Fig. II) of the plate I. As so engaged, the cam block is held in assembly.

The lid assembly is shown in Fig. II, ready to be applied to a journal box. It will be realized from what has been said that the relatively powerful spring is under tension and that the arms 8 and 9 tend to turn, relatively to the centre of the coil 3, the arm 8 counter-clockwise, the arm 9 clockwise; such turning of the arms is prevented by the engagement of the arms upon the supplemental cam block 22 interposed between them. The lid assembly, so precisely organized in the relative positions of its parts, is precisely in position for application to a journal box in open position with respect thereto. In making application, the assembled lid is lowered, as the arrow indicates in Fig. II, and brought to position adjacent the forward edge of journal box 5, with the cam block 4 nested within supplemental cam block 22. Then the pivot-pin I4 is thrust to place, within the perforation of cam block 4, within the perforations 23 of the auxiliary cam block 22, and through the loops l2 (Fig. I) of plate I, and the orifices [3 in hood 2. The pin is secured in usual way, and the journal box assembly is complete. The lid then stands in open position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. III, and from such position it may be swung (counterclockwise), against the augmented tension of spring 3, until, roller I l passing beyond the upper surface 26 of the supplemental cam block, and 0 engaging the outer face 21 of the supplemental cam block, the tension of the spring becomes effective to carry the swinging lid downward to closed position (full-line position in Fig. III) and yieldingly but powerfully to hold it there.

Whereas in the supplemental cam block of the structure described in my above-mentioned copending application the pin-receiving perforations or holes 23 are shown to be circular, in the structure herein described they are of general elliptical or oblong shape, with the major axes of the ellipses extending horizontally, as viewed in Fig. III. By virtue of such refinement, together with the particular organization of the web 24 and lug 25, the supplemental cam block adjusts itself, under the tension of spring 3 in proper position on the cam block 4.

When the lid structure is assembled upon the journal box and swung into closed position, the arms 8 of the spring (with their curved ends l0 embracing the cylindrical extensions 28 of 1 the supplemental cam block), in tending to swing counter-clockwise, urge the supplemental cam block to the left (Fig. III), with the consequence and eifect that the lower edge of web 24 is caused to bear tightly against the face 6 of cam block 4, while the lower tip of lug 25 is wedged against the top surface of the journal box 5. The oblong form of the pin-engaging holes 23 in the supplemental cam block permit this adjustment of the supplemental block under the influence of the spring, and the angularity of the top face of the journal box with respect to the major axes of the oblong holes is instrumental in effecting the wedging of the cam lug 25 upon the face of the journal box, when the supplemental block is urged to the left by the force of the spring arms 8. Thus, under the force of the spring the supplemental cam block 22 automatically seats itself in proper position over the cam block 4, and under such spring force the supplemental cam block is secured in such position, the spring force being effective whether the lid structure is in open or closed position.

It will be perceived that my structure makes accommodation for variations and irregularities in the top surfaces of journal boxes and in the form of the cam blocks borne thereby, it being understood that such variations and irregularities exist in the field. If there be a high spot on either the top of the box or the top of the cam block, the supplemental cam block 22 wedges which said cam block additionally includes two firmly against it, the movement of the .block into the wedged position being less than it otherwise would be. If there be a low spot or depression in the surface of the box or its cam block 4, the

movement of the supplemental cam block is through a greater than normal interval, but in any case the supplemental cam block is wedged and secured in the manner described, and the lid structure is perfectly operable between open and closed positions.

In closed position of the lid. the spring-borne roller 1 I bears against face 2'! of the supplemental cam block; when the lid structure is swung on pin l4 intoopen position, the roller travels from face 21, over face 26, to, the recess 29 in the rear surface of the supplemental cam block, as shown at Ila in Fig. III. As described above and in'my aforesaid copending application, the lid structure is more readily applicable to a journal box and more positive in operation.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a lid adapted to be pivotally mounted upon a journal box that has a hinge-lug, such lid including a plate, a hood, a spring having two I arms tending to move relatively to one another which said hinge-pin has a diameter ofless value v the block transversely of the axis of, said hinge under the tensionof the spring, and a cam block assembled as a unit and adapted to be applied as a unit, the cam block in such assembly engaged by said arms of the spring, holding the spring under tension in position that characterizes open position with respect to the journal box, the plate of the assembled lid when the lid has been applied being movable pivotally from open position against augmented tension of the said spring, said cam block including holes adapted in theassem bly to receive a hinge-pin; the refinement herein described in which said holes are ob1ong,- and in than the major axes of said oblongholes, said spring bearing on said'block and tending to shift lug when the lid is pivotally mounted thereon.

2. The structure of the next preceding claim, in

3. In a cam block adapted for assembly, with a spring-including lid structure upon the hingelug of a journal box, said block including a-body having spaced-apart cylindrical adapted in assembly to lie on opposite sides of said hinge-lug, said extensions including holes adapted to receive a hinge-pin extending through said hinge-lug, a portion of said block adapted to bear upon said hinge-lug and a portion adapted to bear on the surface of the journal box, and a cam surface formed on said block, said cam surface and said cylindrical extensions being adapted to cooperate with the spring in said lid structure; the refinement herein described in which the holes insaid extensions are of oblong form, with the major axes of the holes of greater value than the diameter of the hinge-pin alluded to, whereby in the assembly mentioned said cam block may be adjusted transversely of the axis of such hinge- 'of a journal box equipped with a spring-closed lid, said cam member including two side portions adapted in the assembly to lie severally on opposite sides of said cam block, each of such side portions including a hole adapted to receive a hingepin, said cam member including a body portion between said side portions providing an enlargement of the camsurface of the block on which it is assembled, to augment the effect of the spring extensions in said lid;" the refinement herein described in which the holes in said side portions are of oblong form, with their major axes exceeding the diam-- eter of thevhing-pin mentioned, whereby'the cam member may be adjusted on said rigid cam block.

JOHN J. RULIANCICH. 

